Customer ratings & reviews

Apple TV 2015 - Skip this revolution

Posted 3 years ago

lawstans

Member

https://youtu.be/1zYY0LCZgG0
It has been rumored for years that Apple was developing a product that would revolutionize how we experience television. And what I expected most was for this product to free me from cable companies. Does the new Apple TV live up to the years of built up expectation? In terms of design the Apple TV is simple and doesn’t distract. The remote looks and feels amazing. It is has six buttons a touch surface. You can call up Siri, adjust volume, and control games. Even though the touch surface is a main selling point. It did not do it for me. Sure it’s better, but not by much.
Oddly the iphone remote app is not compatible with the new Apple TV. So, you have no convenient way to enter text. When it comes to performance the Apple TV has an A8 64-bit chip. Everything about the Apple TV is snappy and responsive. Games look good This is the best gaming performance you can get out side of the playstation and xbox. It lacks 4k support, but there still isn’t a lot of 4k content so at this point you probably won’t miss it much. The connections will have you covered with HDMI 1.4 and Ethernet. Siri can be a mixed experience on the iPhone. But when Siri has to only answer questions that pertain to movies and tv shows it performs consistently. Apple TV has most of the services you will want. Netflix, Hulu and, of course, iTunes are all here. A significant number of my digital movies are through VUDU, so it is disappointing to see that there is no VUDU app. It is odd that there are apps from VUDU and Amazon Video on the iPhone but not on the Apple TV. Even though the potential of TV-OS is promising, you still need to have a cable subscription to access the shows and movies you normally watch. Specifically, there is no way for you to watch NBC, Fox, ABC, ESPN or AMC for the Walking dead without a subscription. But say you choose to only go with apps that require a monthly subscription. Here is short list that most of us would consider. HBO Now ( for game of thrones) $14.99 , Showtime $11, CBS All Access $6, Netflix (house of cards) $8.99, and let’s add HULU for access to from FOX, NBC and ABC. That’ll cost $11.99. and through the league passes for the NBA($30/month) and MLB($19) that will cost you $101.99/month. If you can skip sports and premium channels and just go with HULU. $11.99 a month is not bad. Any benefits in cost evaporate once you try to add sports. What can I say, the User Interface is second to none. It looks absolutely amazing. It is new and fresh and the parallax posters are a nice touch. This easily beats any UI from the competition. Overall it is really easy to find what I want. For $149 streaming box, the Apple TV offers the best experience when compared to chromecast or Amazon Fire TV. When compared to cable companies, it was disappointing to realize that you don’t actually save much money. Its hard to gauge whether the Apple TV is a great product or if its just the best streaming box amongst a set of mediocre streaming boxes. But the Apple TV has far more potential when compared to the competition. When more apps are created specifically for the Apple TV, apps that are truly interactive, then we will get something that more closely resembles the revolutionary product we’ve been waiting for.

No, I would not recommend this to a friend

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nickcal

Elite Plus Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Our First Impressions of the NEW Apple TV

Posted 3 years ago

nickcal

Elite Plus Member

Today, we received our Apple TV well one of two that we are getting and we wanted to share our initial thoughts – from box to set-up.
First thing is first, the box is bigger than the last Apple TV that came out three years ago, also Apple went back to a fully black box like they had for the second gen Apple TV. It has a nice matte black finish and once you open the box you’re presented with the Apple TV and remote at the top of the box. After pulling both of them out, directly under where the remote was you will find the power cable and under where the Apple TV resided you will find the Lightning cable for charging your remote, plus the “Let’s Get Started Guide.” One thing the new Apple TV does not come with is an HDMI cable. So, make sure you have one available or the set-up process is going to stop pretty quickly.
The set-up process is is very simple. The only step that slows you down is having to enter your account information for every subscription service you have. You will need the aide of your computer because in order to set-up live streaming for television networks like HBO, NBC, ABC, and USA require you to enter a validation code on that companies website. We did discover pretty early on that some live streaming networks are not available in all areas. For example, when we tried to set-up the ABC app live streaming, we were met with an error message that said the service wasn’t available in our area. The help section on the Apple TV indicates that more service will be added soon.
As I was setting it up, I discovered just how responsive and quick the new Apple TV is. Everything – even the App Store is incredibly fast. I downloaded YouTube, Netflix, HBOGO and several other apps to get the Apple TV set-up the way I wanted and the download for those apps took no time at all. While everyone is pretty familiar with how the streaming video apps work, I want to bring up a new type of app for the Apple TV – the game. I did test out Crossy Road while I was setting it up and actually found it to be more enjoyable than on the iPhone. Again, it is very responsive and there was no perceptible lag that I could see.
Now, onto the Siri Remote. I’ve got a fair amount of experience with the Amazon TV remote that has a voice assistant built-in, so I was excited to have that function come to the Apple TV. This remote is really much more advanced that I expected it to be. First of all, Siri commands are handled with ease and even though there is a little learning curve you have to get over for really fluid control – tap the button once and then hold it in to speak – it appears that Siri works really well with the new Apple TV.
The second really cool feature of the Siri Remote is the Touch Surface. Apple pulled the popular navigation method in from the iPhone and iPad into the Siri Remote. I’ll be honest, until I used it, I really wasn’t sure how I would enjoy it. Now that I’ve used it, I can say that I’m a fan. It is just as responsive to the touch and gestures as the surface of my iPhone and it really makes it interesting to interact with the Apple TV. In my opinion, the Siri Remote really makes the Apple TV feel like an Apple product. You experience using it rather than just changing channels like you do with a regular television.
Also, the Siri Remote comes with some added functionality over the old Apple remote like volume control. It’s meant to be a universal remote and can be programmed to power your tv on and off and control its volume. Unfortunately for us, the TV we are using the Apple TV with is not entirely compatible with the universal nature of the Siri Remote. We were able to program the volume – which was incredibly easy – but were not able to program any other functions.
Really the only ‘complaint’ I would have about this initial set-up review is that I can tell that the App Store is blissfully light on apps. I mean, there are some very cool apps ready for launch, but not as many as I thought there would be. I know that they will come soon as developers start using this remarkable device more and more.
I have really been looking forward to this new Apple TV launch. Like so many other Apple fans, I felt as though the Apple TV was one of the devices that seriously needed a redesign. On my old Apple TV’s loading video in Netflix was painfully slow. So much that I started to shy away from using it. Everything I’ve tried to load on the new Apple TV is so incredibly fast and I’m really looking forward to making it a part of my home entertainment system.

I would recommend this to a friend

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SlickWulf

Verified Purchase

Member

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4

Works well

Posted 3 years ago

SlickWulf

Verified Purchase

Member

I got this so that I could cut off most of the cable television service and use this to save some money on the monthly cost. It works well, the remote has a touchpad surface much like a laptop would and it's easy enough to use. I have large hands, and the remote isn't that uncomfortable to hold and use, plus it came with a charge right out of the box and I haven't had to charge it once yet. So it's gone at least one solid month on it's initial charge and I use this daily.
The only downside to the plan that I had of cutting out the TV service and using this instead is: You still would need a log in for cable service for almost ALL the network apps, such as AMC, comedy central, ect..
There are some apps that are NOT available on the Apple TV that ARE on the iPhone and iPad, such as Amazon Prime video. As of the time of thisreview (3/14/2016) there is NO Amazon Prime app available. There is also currently no way to surf the web via the Apple TV by itself. If you have an iPhone or iPad, you CAN do screen mirroring which basically puts whatever is on your screen right onto your TV.
The device has Wi-Fi as well as a plug to connect via an ethernet cable (which, I would recommend as you're GOING to get signal loss and slower speeds via Wi-Fi)
There are some games that you can play with the remote and some that require another person to have an iPod/iPhone/iPad to be the second player.
I've experienced some issues when streaming video content from my ipad to the Apple TV, but that is mostly due to how the website I am watching video works. It's clearly not optimized to do what I'm doing, so I'm not too upset that it has some issues.
Example: There currently is NO app for Adult Swim to watch some of the shows on that network for the Apple TV. So, I go online to the website on my iphone or iPad and click on the video there to stream it to my device, and then simply click on the "screen mirroring" and have it go to the Apple TV. There have been some times when it goes to play a commercial that it will stop broadcasting to the TV and try to play on the device itself (the phone or tablet) and you will need to turn the phone or tablet back on, grab the remote, click play and hope that it goes on with what it was trying to do.
This can be frustrating and trying to watch things like The Walking Dead via the AMC website and broadcast it to the Apple Tv has not gone well. This could be fixed when/if they release a stand alone app for the Apple TV or if the websites can figure out why it's not playing well with going from a mobile device to screen mirroring to the Apple TV.
Overall, those 3 or 4 shows that require this additional muddling about can just as easily be watched on a laptop or desktop.
If that's NOT an option for you, then you might want to look into a different option.
Netflix, Hulu, Youtube all work very well and I've had no issues with them.
The Siri voice search can take some getting used to, and it often ONLY will show you what's available through iTunes.
If you have a LOT invested already with iTunes, iPhone, Apple in general... then this will be a good fit. Buying shows and movies and music to play on the TV is easy through itunes.
It takes up very little room. The remote itself is bluetooth so you don't NEED to have the device visible if you don't want. The remote DOES have I.R. so you can controll volume on your television with the Apple TV remote. Some programming may be required, if you're TV doesn't have the HDMI capability to automatically detect and change settings. My Samsung TV had no issues with it, the remote was able to turn on the TV and change the volume.
You can sync it up with your iCloud and see pictures and some videos on the TV that you took with your iPhone or iPad or other connected Apple device that is set up to share images or use the cloud. So, if you take some pictures with your iPhone and want to show them to everyone, then it will appear in your photo stream on your Apple TV.
Just be aware that it will show EVERY one of your recent pictures that are shared. So... keep that in mind.
If you have kids and you take some photos that are not exactly PG....they can see them on the TV if you have photo sharing set up.
My only complaints are: Lack of supported Apps, which time will more than likely change.
When you want to put the Apple TV to sleep, you hold the menu button for a few seconds and a little message pops up asking you if you want to put the apple TV to sleep (bascially shut it off) when you do so... it will turn off the TV as well.
This can get a little annoying, and it MAY only be due to the type of TV that I have. But if I want to switch over to a gaming console or blueray player or any other input and wish to put the Apple TV to sleep, it turns off the TV and I then have to turn it back on and manually swap over to the next input.
It will also switch over to the Apple TV if you accidentally click on, so far, ANY button on the remote. So if you are watching TV or a DVD or something else, and someone picks up the remote, it will detect that someone picked up the remote and if they press anything, any button or click in the trackpad portion on the top of the remote, it will change the input on the TV over to the Apple TV.
Again, this MAY only be due to the brand and model of Television that I personally have. This may not do this on ALL makes and models of television. And it's not that big of a deal, I just have to grab the other remote and switch it back.
So, Do I recommend it?
If you already have something invested with Apple. Be it an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Macbook, iTunes... and you already have some content in your itunes such as movies, shows, music, podcasts... then YES, this would likely make more sense.
If you have NO apple Products, don't have an iTunes account... Then you might want to look into a Roku or something else. They have similar features (especiialy the Roku 3 and 4) but don't focus on a pre-existing library of photos, music, movies, shows and other things in an iTunes library.
Not to say that you CAN'T use this if you DON'T have any other Apple device or accounts... it just might make more sense to try something else.

I would recommend this to a friend

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benjitek

Elite Plus Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

My Precious :-)

Posted 3 years ago

benjitek

Elite Plus Member

I spent a week each with the disappointing Amazon FireTV2 and the very nice Roku-4, and bought the new AppleTV. The AppleTV doesn’t do 4K, which isn’t an issue for me as my 1080p TV is less than a year old, and will be my only TV for at least another few years.
When I first plugged the HDMI cable in and turned on the AppleTV, the screen invited me to step closer and hold my iPhone near the box to bypass WiFi and Apple services setup… goosebumps… I witnessed both sorcery and witchcraft as the box connected to my network without my help.
The process of getting from box to Home Screen was much faster with the AppleTV than it was with either the FireTV2 or Roku-4. Even though the other 2 are also freshly launched products, they instantly began to seem outdated.
The Home Screen itself is stunning. The remote that navigates through the screens is like a magic wand once you begin using the touchpad, integrating into the viewing experience like no other, and, it’s rechargeable. While it’s amazingly thin, I wish it were at least twice as thick. After about an hour of use, my wrist started to cramp up and I had to switch to the other hand — and after another hour, that one was sore as well. In real use, I won’t be using it nearly as much, but if Candy Crush appears in the AppStore, my wrists are in trouble. The granular and intuitive media control provided by the remote’s touchpad is amazing. Lasting a month or longer on a charge is a nice perk.
Siri’s voice control enhances the viewing experience many times over. Being able to say things like ’skip ahead 12 minutes’ or ‘what did she just say’ have set the bar for a streaming media box. I look forward to a future update when I’ll be able to add things to my iOS Reminders lists and reference stuff from my Calendar and Contacts.
I’ve been using Netflix, Hulu, Showtime, and YouTube. All have that same gorgeous user interface, and they all work flawlessly. Press the touchpad on any of them and they launch instantly, select something to watch and it seems to begin instantaneously — I’ve yet to perceive a buffering wait-time. I use Plex extensively, and while the Plex media player app was absent from the AppStore on launch day — it has been submitted and is pending approval. If, like me, you just can’t wait — there is a very nice 3rd party Plex player available, called SimpleX, for $2.99 in the AppStore. If you have an iPhone or other iOS device, the Plex app has native AirPlay support and is another option that I tried — it works well and it’s free.
Numerous tech reviewers have given considerable attention to Amazon Instant Video not being available for the new AppleTV. I subscribe to Amazon Prime and very occasionally watch something from the Prime Video library. While an ATV app would be great, the Amazon Instant Video app on my iPhone supports AirPlay and does a mind-meld with the AppleTV. I was even able to use the ‘what did she just say’ voice command and watch as the video rewound 15 seconds and temporarily turned on subtitles.
From the UI to the touchpad remote control, the AppleTV makes the FireTV2 and the Roku-4 seem like abacuses in comparison. If 4K viewing were a consideration, I’d go with a Roku-4 for 4K media and use the AppleTV for everything else.

I would recommend this to a friend

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Ryan

Verified Purchase

Elite Plus Member

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4

It's the Future... But it's Not Here Just Yet

Posted 3 years ago

Ryan

Verified Purchase

Elite Plus Member

My old Apple TV was looking a little long in the tooth, so I figured that this new model would be a major overhaul and change the way I watch and interact with TV content. It doesn't quite live up to my hopes, at least not yet. Below are my thoughts on the biggest changes in this new model: the Siri Remote and App Store.
Siri Remote
I was expecting the remote to be quite simple and intuitive, but there is a definite learning curve. Prepare to give your thumbs a workout. I often find myself swiping too far and overshooting the item I wanted to select. Also, it's not immediately obvious that you can simply tap on the trackpad (rather than click) and use the edges as directional pointers, just like the previous Apple TV remote. My biggest gripe with the remote has to be the way that Apple has laid out the on-screen keyboard (a completely horizontal line in alphabet order). After logging into and authenticating all of your apps, your thumb is going to hate you. On the plus side, Siri works very well and understands my voice with almost complete accuracy. However, there just isn't much that Siri can do on the Apple TV right now besides search iTunes and Netflix. I'm sure more features will be added over time.
App Store
There just aren't enough apps available yet (besides the plethora of cheap games that will surely keep your kids occupied for at least a few hours). It's obvious that Apple wanted to release this new model in time for the holiday season, but it did so without giving developers enough time to make meaningful apps. The potential is huge and developers now have a great canvas to build amazing experiences, but it's going to take at least another 6-12 months for consumers to see any real benefit.
Other Thoughts
As it stands, I don't think this is the product that is going to change TV forever, as some may have hoped. It's a nice upgrade from the previous Apple TV, but right now, it just feels half-baked. Most streaming apps still require a paid cable/satellite TV subscription, and you have to log in and authenticate every single one of those apps. If Apple can figure out a way to let users log in with their cable subscription just once -- and have that apply to all necessary apps -- that would be a major advancement in user experience. In the meantime, I'm hoping that apps like TiVo, Amazon, Infuse, Vudu, and others make their way to Apple TV. But as it stands now, the new Apple TV is more like a faster, prettier version of its predecessor. If you're a first-time Apple TV buyer, buy it without hesitation. If you have an older Apple TV, I'd hold off for at least another few months. Apple has laid the groundwork for its vision of TV, and its now up to developers and content providers to get on board.

I would recommend this to a friend

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InspiredReader

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

1

EPIC FAIL!! 10 reasons why Apple TV 4 is terrible

Posted 3 years ago

InspiredReader

After waiting 4 years for the new Apple TV, this thing is A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT! Here's why:
1. THE REMOTE IS JUST AWFUL. Whoever invented this touchpad remote must have never tested it in the dark. The slightest brush of fingers across the edges causes the tv screen to display the bottom scrubber bar. Touch it again and the play head whizzes ahead or back 4-5 minutes...even at the least sensitive setting. And why didn't Apple put LEDs behind the buttons? In a dark room, you need a flashlight to tell one slick black button from the other slick black button! My roku remote has motion activated illumination, making it easy to use in the dark.
2. SET UP IS A CHORE. You can't set up the Apple TV without swiping through the on-screen keyboard using the remote trackpad. God bless you if your Apple ID and passwords are long or a mix of upper/lowercase/numbers/symbols. Swiping and pressing (yes you must hard-press the trackpad, not tap as you would have naturally thought) causes extreme frustration because the device only intermittently recognizes the gesture correctly. Sometimes a swipe moves the cursor over 1 character, sometimes a swipe moves the cursor over 3-4. Tap too hard and you'll select the wrong character. Grrr. Still no way to pair a Bluetooth keyboard like with previous models.
3. VOLUME IS TOO LOW. The default volume setting for all of my devices is the same (Bluray, Roku, DVR), except the Apple TV, which outputs much lower volume. So when I switch inputs to my DVR (or other device) the volume is blaring.
4. INTERFACE NEEDS REDESIGNING. The giant sliding interface is nauseating to watch. On a big tv the interface seems to LUNGE up and down as you navigate though the onscreen icons. They're ENORMOUS! Most people who would drop $150 for AppleTV instead of a much cheaper roku or Amazon Fire probably have a 40+ inch flat screen...we don't need icons that are 24 inches across. Smaller icons and channel buttons would look a hundred times better.
5. NOT MUCH OF AN UPGRADE. Aside from Plex and 1080p it's almost the same experience as my older Apple TV, which is free since its been paid off for 5 years. The remote and interface got worse, not better.
6. SIRI SEARCH IS LIMITED. Siri search mostly returns a popup that says "I can't do that". Like when you ask it to search youtube for "hamster eating carrot" or "the trailer for Trumbo". No, my friend, I have to swipe my way through the trackpad to search. Or...I could pull up the youtube app on my iPhone and use AirPlay to stream it. But I could have done that with my old Apple TV.
7. SIRI DEFAULTS TO ITUNES STORE. Siri WILL HOWEVER return accurate responses to anything you can BUY or RENT on the ITunes Store. Saying 'play Breaking Bad' takes me to the iTunes Store, not the version I have. Hmmm. I get the feeling Apple wants me to buy the itunes version rather than stream a version I already bought.
8. AMAZON VIDEO IS MISSING. I heard rumor that Amazon would have an app for streaming content. Not yet. I still have to keep my roku for that. So my dream to have all streaming services on 1 device will have to continue on. So...it's just like where I was a week ago, before I bought the new Apple TV.
9. GAMING IS FRUSTRATING. You use that awful remote to play games. It is very unnatural playing a game using the trackpad. It feels ergonomically wrong. I could buy a pricy controller for a more traditional gaming experience, but Apple insists that all games must be playable with the Siri remote. It's like holding a Magic Mouse in the air and then swiping across the surface with your thumb to play Crossy Road or Badlands. Try it...you'll see what I mean.
10. STILL A HOBBY DEVICE. I'm returning this tomorrow, though I must express my disappointment in how poorly Apple "changed how we experience tv". For 4 years the rumors have been circulating about this update, but Apple TV 4 seems to have been rushed out the door last minute. What a COLOSSAL DISAPPOINTMENT. I expected so much better from Apple.

No, I would not recommend this to a friend

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Mike

Elite Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

A huge improvement- worth the difference

Posted 3 years ago

Mike

Elite Member

With the 3rd gen ATV selling for only $69, this sounds expensive; but remember that (and the earlier models) were $99 (and I paid that). This 4th gen ATV costs 50% more than that. But there is a lot of value added.
The new trackpad is a joy. Siri has so far understood everything I asked, and search results are nearly instantaneous. 32 gigs is plenty unless you are a hard core gamer. I loaded it up with everything that looked interesting so far in the new App Store, and I've only used 1.5 gigs, and that includes a game. You can also trash stuff later if you need space- stays in the cloud like the other app store. Setup was easy- uses the iPhone's wifi and other settings. BTW- for optimal performance, do whatever is necessary to use a hard-wired ethernet connection instead of wi-fi. The ATV is very fast, but only if your internet connection is also decent. I have some Parrot 2.0 bluetooth headphones, and they work great with the ATV4! You can also control your TV's volume easily with the remote, as it has an IR blaster now. The apps are great- all of the ATV3 apps are there, and you can pick and choose only the ones that are valuable to you. Airplay works perfectly. You can still access the iTunes content on your computer via Home Sharing, as well as your radio stations from before. The only pain is re-entering the verification codes for channels (now apps) that require them. There is PLENTY of eye-candy in the beautiful interface. The screensaver videos are excellent. This thing makes an older HD TV look and feel brand new (why do manufacturers waste time and $ coming up with "smart" features, most of which are horrible, when this box can do more better...) To recap: ATV4 is fast, smart, has plenty of storage, is expandable with the already well-populated app store, games, full-featured remote with Siri, has bluetooth, IR, and is a great easy-to-use viewing experience. To me that is worth the extra $50. No 4K? I don't care- content will take up too much bandwidth anyway. Bummed about Amazon Prime videos? Don't be. Play them on the ATV4 through your IOS device via Airplay until Amazon stops pouting and writes an App for the ATV (and then decides to sell them again. Buy from Best Buy anyway- Amazon doesn't deserve your business with their attitude IMHO)

I would recommend this to a friend

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MichaelTheSkeptic

Verified Purchase

Elite Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Best streaming device

Posted 3 years ago

MichaelTheSkeptic

Verified Purchase

Elite Member

Apple has decided to completely update its "hobby" device. And what an update.
I've owned the three generations of Apple TV devices, remembering the good old days when the device had actual hard drive in it, so you could store movies and music.
Here's what I like about it:
1. New remote is cool. It takes a bit of a learning curve, but once I got used to it (and fixed the settings for it to medium speed), it worked great. I had read comments that it was hard to input passwords, but I sped through them with the touch pad. Cool.
2. App store is great. I picked up all my favorites, with the bonus that the apps also showed up on my iDevices. Kind of surprising that the App Store for TVOS links to iOS.
3. UI is cool. Very modern.
4. Content has all the usual suspects, except for Amazon Prime and Sling. Which leads me to...
5. AirPlay seems to have gotten a power upgrade. I was streaming Amazon Prime from my iPad, and it was like I was using a native TVOS app. Remote controls AirPlay (except for choosing content).
6. There seems like there are a lot of games in the App store, but I'm not much of gamer, so I wait to see some ratings before I pick up something that might waste a few hours.
7. Siri is kind of cool. But I'm still learning how to use it better.
Issues:
1. No 4K. Now, there's a lot of whining about this, but most of us don't have 4K TVs (though I have a 27" connected to my MacBookPro for the retina effect). And there's not a lot of content. I have an impression that Apple might do a firmware upgrade to give us 4K, but they never say anything.
2. No optical sound out. Not sure why they got rid of this, but it may be because of how most people connect everything. I used optical out to plug into my sound system, though HDMI works just as well.
3. Amazon is being a bit of jerk about their content by not having an Amazon Prime app on the Apple TV. But this is a problem which I overcame easily with AirPlay (which I think is only an Apple device thing).
4. No Sling. But I bet that'll change very soon.
Apple TV is getting us close to cord-cutting. Very close.

I would recommend this to a friend

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motorcop

Elite Member

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

3

Better than the older version but not the best yet

Posted 3 years ago

motorcop

Elite Member

I'm pretty open minded when it comes to tech stuff. I read a lot of reviews and even try to get out to the local big box stores to try things out before making a decision. I just recently gave the Apple TV a whirl at Best Buy and walked out with it, taking it home to try for myself.
My entire house in in the "Apple Ecosystem"' having multiple iPhones, IPads, a Mac laptop and a Mac desktop...so why not an Apple TV, right? To be fair, I've had the older Apple TV, the Roku 3, two smart TV's and now, this newest version of Apple TV. My favorite so far...not this Apple TV, but instead the Roku 3 actually.
I will admit that this version is faster than the older one, the remote is surprisingly pleasant to use and overall it seems to be an inprovement over the older version. However, there were far more reasons for me not to like it and return it and go for another Roku...or maybe even try the Amazon Fire TV (new version).
First, buffering was a non stop issue with the this device. Maybe I just got a bad one, but using wifi, approx. 20 feet from the router, Netflix stopped about every 10 minutes to load. I also tried to watch a movie from my iCloud (which is a great feature I admit) and it buffered every 3 minutes or less, causing me to just stop playing it. My Roku is in my bedroom, approx. 50 plus feet away from the router and not once in over a year has it ever buffered. I don't have Ethernet available to plug into based on TV location (mounted above the stone fireplace mantle), so I could not compare wired versus wireless. I know there are options around this, but my Roku has never needed it, so why add it now?
Second, image quality was subpar compared to the Roku and they both are on identical Samsung 46" 1080p HD TV's at 120Mhz. The Roku 3 looks clear and crisp whereas the Apple TV had a slight haze to it and just looked "soft". Also, the constant buffering caused the images to be blurry most of the time as it caught up and loaded.
Third, to view Amazon Prime I had to use the AirPlay feature from my phone or tablet to stream to the TV versus a dedicated app. This further degraded the image quality. I am a Prime member and use the streaming videos service often, so this unnecessary annoyance was also another dislike for me personally. The AirPlay feature was a selling point for me, I just wish it worked better.
Also, and I've read this may change, but Siri is not that responsive. She does not speak back, but instead words appear on the screen. My Roku 3 has a similar voice option that I also thought was rather lacking, but Siri misunderstood me half of the time and is quite limited for what I believe it should be able to do by now. I've heard that updates may change this, but I'm looking for what works right now...not what it can be later.
I really wanted to like the new version of Apple TV, as I am a loyal fan of Apple, but this just wasn't up to speed with Roku 3...sorry Apple. Granted, there are things I dislike about the Roku 3, which is the reason I am looking for another streaming player for the other TV. But, this version is not quite ready to be a strong competitor to other devices out there that just...well, work much better. As stated, I may give the Amazon Fire TV a chance and if it doesn't work well, at least there's always Roku to fall back on.

I would recommend this to a friend

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xxxMysterionxxx

Verified Purchase

Elite Plus Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Exquisite Streamer w/ Endless Stamina xMYSTERIONx

Posted 2 years ago

xxxMysterionxxx

Verified Purchase

Elite Plus Member

This Apple TV 4th Gen has proven it's worthiness, time and time again. Allow me to elaborate, please, grab a cup of wine. I hope you are enjoying the book room with it's low light setting, with the marble Earth globe to your left, the soothing piano music. These Victorian chairs are comfortable aren't they? Well, lets begin:
The packaging of the Apple TV fourth generation, comes in a satisfying, matte black, hefty box. Open the box and you are greeted to the Apple TV, kindly introducing itself with its partner, the controller. As you explore the box, you find all the accessories and manuals. When you unwrap and grasp the Apple TV in your hands, you can not help but feel its soft, yet firm, textured build. You feel the Apple TV's premium build. The Apple TV Controller, feels elegant on the hands, has an immaculate size, not too big on your hand but not miniature, just.....right. The power cable is a flat cable, is above average length and has a soft texture as well.
Onto its performance. Once the Apple TV is connected to the tv and powered on, you are presented with a straight forward screen. It asks for your desired language for pleasure. Once you select the language, it then goes to simplify the setup process. The Apple TV loves to share the experience with multiple devices. If you have an apple device, be it iPhone or iPad, it will allow you to bring it into the action by wireless connection. When place closed together, it retrieves information about your account, and runs it through and after a few minutes, asks for your iTunes password. To connect the Control, it'll ask you to gently press the touch pad on the controller, until it...clicks. From there, it will take on a solo run, allowing you to watch itself do its thing. It gives you a warning that the Apple logo may disappear but that's okay, it's working itself hard for you.
When all is done, you are brought into its world. You see a colorful spectacle of designs and apps, each eager to be chosen to pleasure you, the master and user of it. You are allowed to swap around apps as well, as you please, but double tapping the controller. You can also have two things running for you as well. You can have it pleasure your ears with harmonic sounds while stimulating your vision with visual performances.
The Apple TV enjoys having multiple command sources. Not only does it like commands from its control partner, but from other Apple Devices. Once you register an iPhone or iPad as a registered remote, you are set to take charge of the Apple TV. The remote performance is a smooth transition and abides by all its desires. If you want to switch back to the control, it will swap back to it. If you desire to verbally manipulate the Apple TV, you can tell it what to do via the voice command on the Apple TV controller. Tell it to show you a movie, a v show, put on subtitles, begin playing music or search for something you have in mind and it will succumb to your demand.
All in all, this Apple TV will bring about a substantial satisfaction to meet all of your needs, and satisfy you in ways you haven't imagined. It's a powerful device, don't underestimate its abilities to perform.

I would recommend this to a friend

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DavecoInNY

Member

Top 500 Contributor

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

1

Not a Premium Product for Streaming Devices

Posted 3 years ago

DavecoInNY

Member

Top 500 Contributor

Unfortunately, as an avid Apple fan, having bought almost all of their product line throughout the years, this is by far their worst product they have unleashed to consumers. If you are into fancy looking 3D app displays that dazzle you while you load them, then this is your product. If you are interested in high quality video with a lot of content, choices, a USB port for personal media playback, and a crisper picture quality, I strongly suggest - DO NOT buy this product. I have an Apple TV 3 and bought this as an upgrade without reading any reviews. I guess that is my fault, but this by far is not worth the extra money or time to set up.
First thing of annoyance - when you start it, you have to waste a ton of time, re-downloading your favorite apps, doing so in an app store that barely has anything. The picture quality is not better than the 3 - just want people to know, if you have had the Apple 3, it plays exactly as the Apple 3 does in the quality of the video, nothing better. If you read the box, this is NOT any up-scaler towards an UHD - 4K experience, it is still ONLY 1080P, if that is what they want to call it, I definitely do not, it is more like a 720 P quality video. There is no USB hub to Plug n Play your personal media unlike others (Of course Apple doesn't offer that with any of their stand alone products).
If I can do so, I will bring this back for a refund. I still have the Apple 3 and if they both have the same quality streaming video, then in my opinion, I am just throwing money away at Apple for a fancy looking device that basically is the same as the 3,, but with an app store that doesn't offer much.
Another point I want to make sure consumers are aware of this product, the so called "new" apps in the app store do not play like the Apple 3 apps did. In example, if you had the HBO GO app on the Apple 3, all of you fans of HBO would know that the auto-play feature was excellent on the Apple 3, playing continuous content when allowed. The Apple 4 doesn't offer this yet. I have called Apple, and they can only say, because this is a new OS for the Apple TV, it is the developers of the apps who have yet to enhance the apps that can play on the Apple TV 4, so expect a downgrade instead of an upgrade on the apps.
All in all, this is not worth money nor time. Apple unleashed this piece of hardware prematurely. They should have waited until the apps were worth it for the consumers. Content - Horrible. You are tethered to iTunes only as far as buying a movie or show. Plus it never recognized my Apple ID.

No, I would not recommend this to a friend

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DavidNYC

Verified Purchase

Elite Plus Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Apple Tv compared to Android Tv - Apple is best in

Posted 2 years ago

DavidNYC

Verified Purchase

Elite Plus Member

I bought the new Apple Tv 4th Generation to hook up to my old Tv in my bedroom shortly after I had purchased a big new Sony 4K Tv for the living room. My reason was, the new Sony comes with Android Tv built in, so I thought it would be somewhat redundant to also attach an Apple Tv with that Tv set.
But, I this allows me to compare the differences between Apple Tv and Android Tv:
PROS
The Apple Tv offers a far more simple, easier to navigate, better looking graphic user interface, and more advanced technology than the Android Tv. For example, you can drag apps into each other creating a folder and naming it just like you can with the iPhone and iPad. You have SIRI built into the very simple elegant new Apple Tv remote, as well.
Both offer similar access to third party apps from their respective app stores, but Apple also gives you auto syncing with the rest of your Apple ‘eco-system’. So if you have a music collection on your Mac, or subscribe to video or audio Podcasts on the iTunes store, you can access them all and play them with your Apple Tv. Android has their versions of similar media, but navigating on the Tv to find them, and then searching and downloading them is very complicated.
The new Apple Tv remote is simple and intuitive to use. The touch pad has a light touch and being very sensitive may take a little practice for some to master. But once you use it a while, it is very fast and intuitive. Apple has Siri built in, but it is for searching content, pausing, and going back in time for example, but not for inputting data to register third party apps.
CONS
Initial set-up with your Apple ID and password can be done via your iPhone or iPad, which is very helpful. However, subsequent setting up of third party apps takes quite a bit of time. Because you first have to move the cursor around (just like Android and other Tv OS) to input each letter or number of your password before being given a code to register that app, a code that you then have to input online via your computer, where you must register with that app’s service to enable it. So if you have a Time Warner account already associated with your Tv, then you must go through a lot of typing to use the associated app for the service you already have, such as Showtime or HBO.
All other Tv OS interfaces make you do the same thing, of course. But I found this somewhat disappointing coming from Apple, because Apple TV has Siri built in, but doesn’t let you use it to register apps, which could save a lot of time. Maybe in a future update?
IN SUMMARY:
Apple Tv 4th generation is best in category. If you already use Apple devices and keep your content on a Mac or in iCloud, you should definitely get this to have it all synced together via wi-fi.

I would recommend this to a friend

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Titan5178

Verified Purchase

Elite Plus Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Well designed & user friendly will only get better

Posted 3 years ago

Titan5178

Verified Purchase

Elite Plus Member

I own quite a few devices capable of streaming media such as the Roku 3, Chromecast, NVIDIA Shield Android TV, Samsung Smart TVs, Xboxes and Playstations but have never owned an Apple TV until now.
My goto device prior to owning the Apple TV was the NVIDIA Shield which still is one of the most powerful and capable streaming devices you can buy. Unfortunately, due to botched updates, poor color output, lack of app support, and weird glitches it has been put aside for the Apple TV.
One of my favorite features of the new Apple TV is the new Siri remote. As cord cutters we no longer have a cable box and use the Apple TV for almost everything (more on that later) and the new remote is both a joy and easy to use.
My absolute most favorite feature is that this is the first HDMI-CEC capable device that can accurately control the power, inputs, and volume on both my stereo and TV. I'm not kidding, it just works. No matter what input the TV or stereo was last set to when I press any button on the remote both the TV and stereo will turn on and switch to the appropriate input. And, as the Siri remote is bluetooth versus the traditional IR it is able to be used without pointing it at any of these components.
Using the TV is very similar to using an iPhone or other mobile device. You have a a grid of apps and an app store with apps made specifically for the Apple TV. You'll find most of the big hitters here: Netflix, Hulu, NFL, CBS All Access, HBO Now/Go, Showtime Now, Disney, PBS, Plex, and of course iTunes. Of course, most of these apps like Netflix, CBS, and Hulu require additional service fees while other apps centered around a network or cable channel like Disney, Nick, HGTV, CNN, etc will require you to login with a satellite or cable provider account in order to access most content. Other than HBO / Showtime most network channels do not allow you to buy their content without a cable subscription. This is very likely to change in the future as the traditional pay TV model as we know it continues to erode and our viewing habits switch to this app-based paradigm.
Because of Apple's strict rules and standards for developers to follow most apps behave in a user friendly and consistent manner, which I personally like. You can very easily switch between apps by double tapping the home button.
The downside is some major content providers such as Amazon, Sling TV, and Vudu are not available at this time. Amazon has made a bad business decision by not allowing their app on on the Apple TV platform as they try to push Fire TV devices. Hopefully all of these apps will become available in the future, but there are no guarantees. Note that with the exception of SlingTV these apps are not available on the NVIDIA Shield either. So at this time you need an Apple TV and another device such as an Xbox, Smart TV, or Playstation in order to get all content.
Bottom line is Apple has a device that's set up to redefine the way we watch TV, just like they transformed the way we listen to music with the invention of the iPod and basically invented the modern smartphone with the iPhone.

I would recommend this to a friend

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TheHammer

Elite Plus Member

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

2

I'm a PC/Android guy. This has been painful...

Posted 2 years ago

TheHammer

Elite Plus Member

I grew up during the start of the computer age and have always been a tech geek at heart. I never got on the Apple bandwagon, because I like the ability to customize and control my devices. I see the appeal with Apple, but the few times I tried to delve into the Apple world have always been frustrating experiences which always leave me for features and functionality only available in the non-Apple world. My Apple TV has allowed my experience to remain consistent.
Let me first state that this Apple TV device was purchased for 1 reason only. I have subscribed to DirecTV Now and it is one of only a few options that currently support the service.
The device arrived in great shape and unboxing the product was exciting. It always seems that Apple always excels at packaging and appearance. My love quickly stopped when I had to set up the device. Of course, no Android apps, so a manual setup was required. I have an old iTunes account, and this is where my 2-hour journey started. To keep this shorter than 2 hours for reading, basically I had to reset my password which after successful required re-verifying my Apple ID which would not work. Several calls to support and almost 2 hours later, I could login to my existing account. But that didn’t end my frustration. When I tried downloading the free DirecTV Now app, I get another error message that my credit card needs to be verified. Oh my chickens! I go to my PC and login to Apple and put in my updated credit card information. Go back to download the app on the Apple TV and still get the verification message. This prompts yet another call to Apple support. Well, I can't verify my credit card without doing so from an Apple "i" device or through the actual iTunes software. So. I download and install iTunes and then I go through the verification process again. Finally, I can go to the Apple TV and start the app download. It is painfully slow.
I'm really surprised how disappointing this experience has been for me so far. Why do I need a credit card on file if I'm not downloading anything that costs $? In fact, why must I have an Apple ID at all just to use the DirecTV Now free app to stream content? And why is the download speed so poor. My network is very fast and the signal is strong at the device. I also tried downloading the available update. I could not get it to complete. The estimated time for download was between 30-45 minutes on each of my attempts. It would never complete. Why are Apple's servers so slow?
One thing I did really like is the simplicity of the remote. It is not completely intuitive for me, but is nicer than anything Android.
Apple, why can't you play a little more nicely with those outside the Apple loyalists?

No, I would not recommend this to a friend

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Wildact0

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4

Great Improvement Overall

Posted 3 years ago

Wildact0

This is a night and day difference over the third generation, in fact its not even fair to compare the two. This model now has the A8 in it, which means its fast, really fast, it has a new interface thats easier then ever to use. It has phenomenal siri search, which has been great and easy to use, it has multitasking, and best of all an App Store.
The App Store
Lets start here, this is easily the best feature of this generation, now you have the option to get games, and apps never seen on a tv before, as well as a lot of paid games, you already enjoy on you iPhone.
As of right now most of the apps are just iPhone apps blown up to fit the screen, but in the future devs will surely fix that.
The Siri Remote
Well this is just great, siri makes it easier then ever to navigate and find something to do or watch. the remote is very responsive, with no lag whatsoever, and is rechargeable. It also has a gyroscope and accelerometer, which is of course for gaming. It also has volume controls that automatically connected to my tv.
Issues
First of all typing sucks, its horrid, your left with a straight line of the alphabet, and have to scroll to the letter you want, using a touch pad to swipe, lets just say your thumb will need an ice pack after you finish logging into your apps. So far all apps require you manually type email and password in to log in except youtube, which seems to be only one thought out, you log in on your phone then give access to app on apple tv.
Its a great device with a few bugs but is great already, can't wait to see that happens after devs step up and the bugs get ironed out. Highly recommend this, also a game controller is recommended, makes typing easier and gaming as well.

I would recommend this to a friend

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pacmantx

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

3

Advances, but disappoints

Posted 3 years ago

pacmantx

While I like the Apple TV with the app store and Siri, but having to manually type passwords over and over again with a poor interface is very disappointing. It simply makes using the device feel like something from 5 years ago. It set up with a breeze with the iPhone 6 with iOS 9, but the remote app should have been updated before the release of this product (or release a new app). Huge oversight and very disappointing. I wouldn't give it a one star since it advances in many areas, but not giving the user the ability to enter passwords with the remote app, the iPhone, or a keyboard is disappointing. They added a remote controller so they could of integrated this since its just an essential part of the experience.
Siri is a nice enhancement, but is very limited. The universal search is still in its infancy, but another nice enhancement. The beautiful piece is that these deficiencies can be corrected with software updates. The app store is going to be a serious money maker for Apple. However, its interface is pretty bad with two categories. It will simply be hard to find new apps by smaller developers since its basically a scroll to view apps (like Netflix and iTunes use). Honestly, I should of waited to purchase this item. I am normally an earlier adopter, but this product feels like a 1.0 rather than a true innovation.
Its a nice product, it just needs some attention on the software side.

No, I would not recommend this to a friend

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Yair

Elite Plus Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Definitely the future of TV sets!

Posted 3 years ago

Yair

Elite Plus Member

I've owned Apple TVs for at least 5 years. The switch from the 2nd generation to the 3rd was not really noticeable if it weren't for the 1080p. But this update is really a game-changer for users.
We don't talk about channels anymore, but focus on apps. Each one of the big TV broadcasters has their own App (HBO, Showtime, ESPN, etc.). You also get the top internet broadcasting companies, such as Netflix and Hulu. Only downside here is that Amazon Prime is not included...
No news there, so what did really change? The Remote and the fact that you can use the Apple TV as a casual-gaming console now.
The Remote
1st game changer here with the addition of Siri. It works perfectly fine! English is my second language, and Siri still manages to understand when I ask it to rewind the show, fastforward it or even ask something about the characters. It's real interaction with the TV!!
The Siri functionality is only available to a limited number of countries and languages right now, so we should expect some improvement here via software updates.
The Gaming Experience
I'm a huge casual gamer, and I really love the fact that the Apple TV could now be used a gaming console. It still doesn't have a lot of games, but the few it has are definitely remarkable. I did try the Rayman one, and not only it looks awesome, but playing with the Remote swiping up and down is definitely a pleasant experience!!
Overall, I'm extremely happy about this product. I'm still not sure whether to recommend the 32Gb or 64Gb as I still don't know how much space will future games occupy. But this is definitely a must-have if you don't already have an Apple TV!

I would recommend this to a friend

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Blockerjd

Verified Purchase

Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Best Cord Cutting Setup

Posted 2 years ago

Blockerjd

Verified Purchase

Member

Full disclosure, I've always been a loyal Apple customer; their stuff just works, and works together seamlessly. Sure there are sacrifices to withstand in some areas, but the benefits of continuity and the Apple ecosystem vastly outweigh missing features for the average consumer (i.e. me).
I have been on board the AppleTV train since the first generation as I have always wanted to bridge the gap between computer and TV content as intuitively as possible. The current generation achieves this swimmingly. The new interface is smooth and offers a few previously missing features: the ability to create folders for apps, and the ability to replace the top row ('main menu') of apps on the home screen that make navigation much better. The apps are richer and more robust with features and options, and there are more system options available through iCloud, home theater control, etc.
That being said, I love the AppleTV and have found what I believe to be the best cord cutting setup currently available below:
OTA channels - received through Tablo TV personal DVR, live and recorded content accessed through AppleTV app (includes ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CW, PBS); $5/month for TV guide information subscription.
Cable Channels - received and accessed through DirecTV NOW AppleTV app (about 100 channels). No cloud DVR yet, but I understand it is in the works. Most content can be found on demand through the channel's companion app; $35/month.
I pay about $40/month for everything (not including internet access which would be incurred regardless of your content subscriptions/provider) and everything is in one place which were my two objectives (cheap & intuitive) for cutting the cord with the least amount of switching anxiety. Sure there is an up front cost to acquire the hardware (1 TabloTV box per house, & 1 AppleTV for each room you want to access content) but when your saving $100/month (literally, we were paying $140/month for DirecTV Satellite) the break even point comes quick and then your saving money every month.
Not to mention every streaming service you may use (except for Amazon Prime) is available through AppleTV as well, all on one screen, with one remote. Just my two cents.

I would recommend this to a friend

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JJB12

Verified Purchase

Elite Plus Member

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4

Great improvement on last model

Posted 2 years ago

JJB12

Verified Purchase

Elite Plus Member

The Appletv4 is a vast improvement on the previous model.
Here's some differences, good and bad, that I've noticed:
1. It's slightly taller, because of the onboard 32GB (or 64GB) hard drive,
2. Apple removed the separate optical digital audio output from this unit. This output has come in very handy, if you want to send your iTunes/Pandora/YouTube music to a separate audio system from your tv/surround sound system, that uses the HDMI port. Now, you'll have to buy a different converter (HDMI audio extractor), if you'd like to upgrade your appletv to gain its better performance and features, but still need an optical output for your separate music system.
3. Its new processor is much smoother, creating a better browsing experience, and less issues with streaming/playback.
4. The new App Store allows you to download the apps that YOU want, unlike the previous model, which now includes many new apps, including Pandora, Plex,and SlingTV, with the major exception being Amazon, a direct streaming competitor. So you'll still have to stream amazon through your mobile device and use airplay to get that show to your appletv/TV system.
5. The new aerial motion screensaver is awesome, showing flyover footage currently of NYC, SanFran, London, Hawaii & the Great Wall in China. You can also use photos from iCloud as a screensaver, but this process can be tedious to setup.
6. The new remote is Bluetooth, which has a decent range, but can be finicky sometimes. You still can use IR commands from a universal remote, as well as a new and improved Appletv control app for iDevices, which is priceless for using its keyboard function to search for content. The new handheld remote also can use siri, to search for shows by voice, and has a 'trackpad-like' sliding thumb control to scan through shows and menus quickly. I don't really like Siri, because I don't think she likes me, but the feature is there to try and use, if you want.
We use this unit every day in our home, and it's been working great! The addition of Plex has been huge, so any older tv can even access our content stored on hard drives. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because there is no amazon app, and the lack of the optical output, which limits previous AV installations, where the appletv was used to provide audio. If I could have given 4.75, I would have!
But it's definitely worth the upgrade if you're a current appletv fan!

I would recommend this to a friend

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honkhonk3

Verified Purchase

Elite Plus Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Very good upgrade

Posted 3 years ago

honkhonk3

Verified Purchase

Elite Plus Member

Ive had the old apple TV for a while now along with a chrome cast, and the past few months neither of them have been used. My 4k tv has all the features apple tv has including screen mirroring and of course netflix hulu and youtube. The ease of using my regular TV remote instead of having to launch the ap on my phone or find the apple tv remote and switch HDMI ports meant I would often default to my TV's smart functions over using apple tv or chrome cast.
This update adds new tvOS features that adds aps and games to the other smart suite. The whole experience feels polished, from siri remote having strong voice controls and a nice trackpad feel in the hand and the aerial screensaver which you can download on a daily basis if you want. Im sure as developers start to support tvOS we will get lots of new aps and games that make this format even more fleshed out. Now there is enough reason for me to fire up the apple tv rather than my TV's smart suite, and right out of the box the siri remote even controlled my TV's volume.
its not perfect, there are a few things that really should be fixed with a software update. My biggest gripe is with setup, I log into my iTunes account, why do I have to also log into all of the aps. Shouldn't it be able to share my login for netflix hbo go and youtube from my iTunes account? The setup took forever. Next, siri remote really needs homekit access, she can't turn my lights off and on. Also, why can't I use siri to skip to the next song?
For a first generation tvOS device, its still worth the upgrade. Don't bother with the 64gb, the 32gb will do just fine. Just remember theres no 4k support yet so we'll likely have to upgrade again when that version comes out.